Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 65239 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 326(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65239 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 326(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Chapter Twenty-Five
Sean
Wealth has afforded me many things in life, but unfortunately, privacy at this moment, isn’t one of them.
The sound of the door to the roof creaking open signals that someone else has decided to visit this slice of paradise in the big city tonight.
Champ’s fingers leap to her lips as she stares at me with a look I can only describe as a combination of lust and panic.
I’ve seen that look on the face of women before, but that was years ago when I was a teenager. Nothing ruins the mood faster than getting caught kissing your girlfriend goodnight. That happened to me on more than one occasion. The most memorable time was when the girl’s father was peering through their ground floor apartment window. He got an eyeful when my hand started inching down my girlfriend’s back in search of her ass.
I never completed that journey because her dear old dad chased me out of the neighborhood with a television remote in his hand.
I glance toward the door to see a couple that lives on the second floor. I smile as they approach us hand-in-hand.
“Sean.” Cornell smiles. “Thank you again for the job.”
I nod. “It’s my pleasure.”
Brandi lets out a sigh. “It’s been a lifesaver. We had no idea what we’d do when his firm made cutbacks and let him go.”
I turn to catch Calliope’s gaze centered on my face.
“I’m Brandi, and this is my husband Cornell.” Brandi extends a hand to Champ. “We’re Sean’s neighbors.”
“You’re Calliope’s neighbors too.” I step in to make the introductions as they exchange a handshake. “She’s living in her brother’s apartment for a few months. It’s next door to mine.”
Brandi’s blonde hair whips to the side as she turns to face me. “Isn’t that nice?”
I know that tone.
These two incredible people have been trying to set me up since they moved into the building. I’ve sidestepped every potential date with the excuse that I’m buried in work.
“We work together,” Champ offers. “I work at Wells.”
Cornell glances at me before his gaze settles on Champ’s face. “I do too. I started in their legal department a couple of weeks ago.”
Calliope’s face lights up. “I thought you looked familiar. You came into Tin Anchor with Sean and Declan for a mid-day drink one day, didn’t you?”
Cornell nods. “My first day on the job. The brothers took me out for a celebratory drink. You served us, didn’t you? So you work at the bar and Wells?”
“I do,” she affirms with a grin.
Brandi takes a step toward us. “You two should join us for dinner one night. Our two-year-old son, Lee, loves having someone new to play with, especially pretty girls.”
Calliope laughs. “Why don’t the three of you come to my apartment for dinner one night? I’ll invite the Durkmans, Mrs. Sweeney, and Mrs. Fields too.”
I tap her shoulder. “And?”
The smile she shoots in my direction could light up this entire city on the darkest night of the year. “And you too, Sean.”
“I’m there,” I say before anyone else can get a word in. “Name the day and time. I’ll be there.”
We lock eyes before she turns back to Cornell and Brandi. “It was nice to meet you both. I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to meeting little Lee.”
“We’d go grab him now for a meet and greet, but he’s fast asleep. My mom is in town for a few days, so she’s standing guard over him.” Brandi smiles as she tugs a phone out of the back pocket of her jeans. “Let’s exchange numbers, Calliope.”
Calliope calls out her number.
If I hadn’t already looked it up in her employment file and added it to my phone’s contact list, I’d be doing that now.
“I’m going to call it a night,” Calliope says.
Since her keys are in one of the pockets of her dress, there’s no reason for her to go back to my apartment with me.
I reach out to catch her hand in mine. Not caring what anyone thinks, I bring it to my lips and plant a series of soft kisses on her fingertips. “Goodnight, Calliope.”
She stares into my eyes, studying me. Likely, trying to gauge what I’m thinking.
I wish I knew.
All I know for sure is that I’m looking forward to standing next to her on the sidewalk in the morning before we go to work.
I could look at her every day for the rest of my life, and each time, I’d see something in her eyes or something written within her expression that is new to me.
“Goodnight, Sean,” she whispers before she turns to walk away.
I keep my gaze trained on her until she disappears behind the door.
“Sean.” Brandi edges a fingertip into my shoulder. “That was fire. The way you kissed her hand, and oh my god, how she looked at you.”